Chapter 7- Tate
Yet another day waking up to the incessant buzzing of the group chat.
Frozen Five
Jordan
Jordan
If you do, that’s on you. Consider this your friendly warning. Coach Randy will be out for blood.
Fitz
If you want him to like you, Do Not call him Randy.
Ronan
Copy that.
Ronan
We don’t need you to message us reminders separate from the team updates. We have access to the calendar too, Cap.
Ryan
Say what you want, Goalie- but I appreciate it.
Tate
Team plane? Is this a prank?
Ronan
Tell me you're fucking joking.
Jordan
Wheels up in forty-five minutes and your ass better be here Tx.
Fitz
Better giddy up, cowboy.
I shoot up so fast I see stars and have to lay back down for a second. I’m quickly swiping and tapping on my phone as I pull up the team calendar.
Shit. I got the dates mixed up. I quickly call the nanny momma had helped arrange for Matty while I'm on the road. How did I miss this?
Gloria’s voicemail picks up. I call again. and again. All the while rushing around grabbing my duffle and packing a light bag and yanking my suit out of the closet. My phone pings and I nearly dive over the bed in my underwear to see if it’s the nanny.
Gloria
Sorry, Mr Bridges. I’m visiting family for the holidays and will return Dec 26th. You approved this via email three days ago.
Tate
Sorry about that, enjoy your vacation.
Damn. Dammit. Fucking Damnit. What am I supposed to do now? I can’t call my mom. I don’t think anyone on the team has kids… I reopen the stupid group chat.
Tate
Do any of you happen to have a super awesome nanny that will take one more kid?
Ronan
Emalyn is still focusing on her career, so we aren't quite to the kids' stage yet.
Fitz
Pretty sure you aren’t even in the relationship stage yet.
Ronan
How dare you.
Ryan
I didn’t even know you had a baby. Congrats.
Tate
a baby? He’s nine.
Fitz
Damn you look good for your thirties.
Ronan
Do none of you read player stats? He’s 28.
Jordan
Didn’t beat teen pregnancy huh?
Tate
So, is that a no? I got the dates mixed up and sent mine on vacation.
Jordan
Alexis already went ahead with Rosie to her mom's. We sent ours on holiday too. Maybe Emalyn?
Ronan
She’s traveling with the team too.
Fitz
Worst comes to worst; Randall will let him tag along.
Ronan
Fuck. What I'd do to be able to call him Randall.
Fitz
You’d abuse the power.
Ronan
Absolutely I would.
Jordan
You better be there Tx. We are not skating laps for you!
I run a hand down my face. I’ve only been here a week and I’m already slacking. I relied so much on momma back home and didn’t even realize. I don’t think there’s anyone I trust as much as her.
A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I run a hand through my hair. It’s already getting a little longer than I like.
I’m haphazardly pulling on my suit pants when a little light bulb goes off over my head. Allison. The boys go to the same school so Matty could just ride with him… maybe. Is that asking too much too soon?
Either way I have to try. I grab my keys off the nightstand as I haul ass down the stairs and out the front door. I hardly notice the night's chill hitting my face as I rush next door and knock on the door frantically.
It takes a moment when the porch light comes on and a sleepy Allison cracks the door. Her eyes are hardly open and she’s wearing the tiniest pair of pajamas I’ve ever seen. My heart stalls out and falls on the floor at her feet.
My mouth is gaping like a fish as my eyes roam hungrily. Allison’s eyes ravage me with the same intensity. Her blonde hair is braided back and tied off in a silk ribbon She exhales softly as her eyes linger on my shirtless figure.
Without thinking, I step forward. Every filthy intention at the forefront of my mind—until I remember.
We work on the team together. Her ex-husband works on that team.
We are neighbours and our kids are best friends.
We don’t have room to be messy. I run a hand through my hair lightly tugging at it.
“Uh, sorry to bang down the door so early. I really need you. Uh, I need your help, I mean.” I stutter like an idiot. Her eyes finally leave my exposed torso and flick up to my face.
She wraps her robe around her, and I hold back a groan in regret at the loss of that spectacular view. I explain my predicament and thankfully she agrees to keep Matty today until I’m back. This won’t work all the time as she has to travel with the team often but just this once, she saved my hide.
I give her my house key without a second thought. I don’t have time to spare.
I'm panting as I burst onto the plane, barely making it in time. Coach Randall sits on the front row.
Jesus, he’d scare the bulls out of the rodeo back home.
He just shakes his head at me and somehow the disappointment is worse than the anger. Then again, disappointment doesn’t make me do laps until I puke.
I rush to the back of the plane where I know Ronan saved a seat for me. Only because he would want to be the first to know if I didn't show.
I see two heads pop up from behind the mass of hockey player heads and airplane seats and two more lean into the aisle, each with wide eyes until they land on me.
Liam smirks and the other three throw their heads back groaning. I roll my eyes.
“Wow, good to see y'all too.” I let the sarcasm drip from my words. I plop down in the aisle seat next to Ronan.
I narrow my eyes when Fitz extends his open hand over the back of his seat without turning around.
I give it a high five confused as to what he wants.
He just wiggles his fingers.
Ronan gives me an apologetic glance as he slaps a twenty into Liam’s hand.
My mouth falls open.
“Did you fuckers bet on me?” I look back and forth between his face and Fitz's hand. Then it dawns on me and the betrayal stings. “You bet against me? What kind of goalie are you?”
Fitz just snickers and holds his hand out across the aisle.
Ryan the rookie shoots me an apologetic look as he reaches across Jordan Ripley to pass a twenty over as well.
I scowl.
He gives a sheepish smile and a shrug. “Sorry, Bridges.”
I put on my neck pillow and headphones with jerky movements. I’m never late. Stupid apple calendar. That’s what I get for upgrading my phone.
I don’t regret it though, I wanted Matty and I to be able to facetime Momma with the best camera quality.
I’m mostly over my little fit for until I see Jordan Ripley sneaking a peek at me over his shoulder. He turns back around when he sees me already looking, a slight blush spreading over his cheeks.
No.
I watch him.
He takes another peek.
I glance to my right at Ronan, who I catch shaking his head at Jordan with wide eyes.
When I whip my head back around in absolute disbelief, Jordan's snatching his empty hand back across the aisle.
I throw my headphones off.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Cap?” I whisper-shout so as not to draw attention from the front of the plane where the coaches sit.
Fitz and Quade lose the battle and they dissolve into laughter. Jordan just looks guilty as hell.
“I can’t believe you! I thought out of all these assholes, you were the responsible one. You’re a dad—The Captain for Christ's sake!”
“Why the fuck would you think that?” Jordan looks shocked as he throws his arms out with a defensive shrug.
“I’m a father because I had a one night stand and got too drunk to remember a condom.
Thank fuck I wrote my number on her tit in sharpie before I left or I would’ve never known I had a child just crawling around in New Jersey! ”
“What?!” I shake my head. “That’s fucking crazy.”
“Yeah. I know.” He just nods like I’m the idiot. “Wanna share your conception story with the class— since we apparently all have to share.”
I scratch my head blushing like crazy over a story I absolutely do not want to tell. “Nah we’re good.”
Now four faces turn to me expectantly as I try for nonchalance. I ignore their unrelenting stares as I take my time opening my go to airplane snack- a pack of honey roasted peanuts.
Ronan snatches them from my hands. “Out with it, Bridges.”
“Uh... What do you mean?” I purse my lips and look around the plane pretending to think, somehow managing to avoid all eye contact. Playing dumb never works for Matty so I don’t know why I think it’ll work for me.
“What’s the story?” Fitz asks as he smacks on his gum.
I throw my head back against my seat, yet again. Why was I so moody today? I just felt… off.
“Guys, I was a … kid. No way am I sharing those details.” I squint at them. They don’t budge.
“What, were you a virgin or something? Why are you being weird?” Fitz asks, still smacking.
“Nothing wrong with that, man.” Ronan answers quickly.
A little too quickly. Our heads take turns slowly turning to him.
Ryan snickers behind his hand.
Ronan tries to duck back into his seat, but Jordan doesn’t let him hide.
I’m just thankful the attention is off me. With that, I secure my headphones back into place and relax into my seat for a nap.
***
In the game against the Otters, no matter what we do, we can’t seem to find our momentum. Our opponents are in our space and leaving no room for mistakes.
Fitz is the only one playing with any skill tonight. He has been our saving grace in the game. Tied at 2-2, it’s a nail-biting fight.
I try like hell to get the puck back when it’s slapped away from my teammate and heading toward our goal on a pass.
Number 24 shoots the puck, sending it flying.
Ronan is too slow, the puck flies past his helmet.
I see the devastated expression before he quickly wipes it away.
He refocuses but I know he’ll carry the guilt of that one with him.
We give it everything, but we still lose 3-2.
The team is mellow as we file into the plane. The chill on the plane has me pulling up my hoodie as I fold my tall frame into a window seat near the back.
The guys spread out around me, all needing a little space after that hard loss too.